Christianity may cease to exist by 2043 –Christian elders

The present generation of Christians in Nigeria may cease to exist in 25 years from

now ( 2043 ) , beginning from 2018 , a group of Christians under the aegis of National

Christian Elders Forum, championed by a former Minister of Defence , Lt . Gen .

Theophilus Danjuma (retd . ), and Solomon Asemota ( SAN ) , has warned .

According to them , the present generation of Christians faces the risk of being the

last set of Christians in Nigeria .

The NCEF therefore demanded

the restructuring of the

Christian Association of Nigeria

before the 2019 general

elections .

The organisation warned that if

the current faulty structure

would be carried into 2019 , it

might be too late to preserve

Christianity in Nigeria.

The Secretary of NCEF , Bosun Emmanuel , expressed these fears in his paper

entitled : “ Impact of lack of unity in CAN as threat to Christian faith ” , delivered

during the annual conference of Catholic Men ’s Guild , held at the Catholic Church

of Assumption , Ikoyi in Lagos .

A copy of the paper was emailed to our correspondent in Jos .

Emmanuel said the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in

Nigeria “ is openly pursuing an anti - Christian agenda that has resulted in countless

murders of Christians all over the nation and destruction of vulnerable Christian

communities . ”

He said , “ Due to the inability of CAN to forge Christians into one indivisible army

of the Lord , the Church has been weakened and unable to stand before its

enemies . Realistically speaking, Christianity is on the brink of extinction in Nigeria.

The ascendancy of Sharia ideology in Nigeria rings the death toll for the Nigerian

Church.

“ It is therefore imperative that CAN must be restructured , as a matter of urgency ,

if Christianity is to survive. CAN belongs to every Christian in Nigeria and there is

nothing wrong with the association . It is the management that should be revisited

and restructured ."

Apart from Danjuma and Asemota,

other members of the NCEF include

Prof . Joseph Otubu , Gen . Joshua

Dogonyaro ( retd. ), Archbishop

Magnus Atilade, Dr . Kate Okpareke ,

Dr . Ayo Abifarin, Gen . Zamani

Lekwot (retd .) , Elder Moses Ihonde ,

Elder Nat Okoro and Elder Matthew

Owojaiye .

Other members are Justice Kalajine

Anigbogu ( retd. ) , Elder Shyngle Wigwe , P . L . Dabup, Sir John W . Bagu , Dr . Saleh

Hussaini , Elder Mike Orobator , Justice James Ogebe (retd . ), Dr. Chukwuemeka

Ezeife , Chief Debo Omotosho , Dame Priscilla Kuye, Dr . S . D. Gani , Mrs . Osaretin

Demuren , Prof . Yussuf Turaki , and Pastor Bosun Emmanuel ( Secretary ) .

According to Emmanuel , disunity has crept into Christendom in Nigeria because of

the deviation from the norms for which CAN was founded in 1976 .

He said , “ The Catholic Church should be prepared to return completely into the

fold of CAN and participate fully in providing leadership in these troublous times .

God warned in 2013 that we were not careful , in 30 to 40 years , Nigeria would be

like Turkey .

“ In 2018 , we can say in 25 years from now , we are facing the risk of being the last

Christians in Nigeria. Therefore , Christians should be in the frontline of defending

democracy in Nigeria. The Church is the bastion of democracy . A divided CAN

cannot defend democracy and promote justice , equity , and fairness. Consequently ,

Sharia will grow stronger . As Sharia grows stronger , democracy will become

weaker and the Church will be emasculated out of existence .

“ The current Federal Government in Nigeria is openly pursuing an anti - Christian

agenda that has resulted in countless murders of Christians all over the nation and

destruction of vulnerable Christian communities . Just recently , Elder Statesman,

Gen . T . Y. Danjuma raised the alarm that Christians should take steps to defend

themselves .”